Facebook vs Twitter vs IM (instant messaging)

[greenthumbnails]

Okay, I know what instant messaging is - you are logged into your email account and you stay logged in so when your friend or co-workers are also logged in they can send you an instant email that pops up on your screen while you are trying to do something else.

Facebook is something like a personal website that you can post your life on and send emails from to other people also plugged into the system as users.  Also has IM capability. (Not sure how my space works, but I imagine its the same)

Twitter? - I have no clue, and with all the new ways to commuicate with people my head is swimming!  I envision it as something like texting on a cellphone or blackberry.  Only I see it as some kind of screen that is constantly scrolling down telling you what your friend is doing at every second (like Facebook status updates). 

Anyone know what the difference is?  Why would anyone want to use it? 

[Mikey]

I have never used Twitter but here is my understanding.  Hopefully a user will correct me if I'm wrong.  Twitter in my opinion is more of following the daily minutia of people, e.g., I'm attending a seminar, I'm eating a cheeseburger, I'm driving down the freeway, I just bumped my head......etc...  The communication is one-way. 

Many times people will Twitter with celebrities, people of renown etc., just to follow their activity.  They will also follow the tweets of their friends.  Facebook members (of which I am a member) generally are in communication with and following the activity of friends.  Communication and friends are the key words here since many times people twitter the activity of people they have no personal relationship with nor do they communicate with them on Twitter.

I also think Twitter is more of an ego thing for many users.  As a Twitter member you will know how many people are following you and some people like to attract as many followers as possible.  The same occurs in Facebook for some people but not to the degree as in Twitter.

[sooks]

I have never used twitter either but it is rapidly becoming popular because of celebrities and what is going on in Iran. People in the marches in Iran have been using it to communicate with one another. I used myspace before. It is almost the same exact thing as facebook but was created years before.

[HOWELL]

I still havent found out how twitter works or whatever, but I preffer myspace and facebook.
And I use messenger all day long.

[Desertponder]

I have not joined twitter and I find Facebook and Myspace confusing. I just don't have the time to spend on them that others apparently have. Think of all the stuff people might actually accomplish if they were not spending all their time on those sites.

[miguynmkoi]

OMG!  Who has time for anything but AP!?  Trying to work, keep house, cook and enjoy outdoors I don't have time for any of the above or TV.  I must be spending too much time enjoying life without so much hi-tech. 

[ram]

 I'm not a member of twitter either, but I do IM all day long either on my cell or on the computer. My parents won't let me have a Myspace, but I really want one. They won't let me have it no matter what I tell them. I even tried to explain that you can have a private site where just your friends can see it, but no, still too dangerous. All my friends have it. They are always asking me for my username so they can add me, and I always have to say that I don't have one. I hope that they will let me have one soon! Some of my favorite sayings are (laugh out loud), brb (be right back), and my favorite one that my computer teacher taught us is rotflolcastntpm (rolling on the floor laughing out loud, crying and screaming, trying not to pee myself)!

[LeeAnne151]

I don't Twitter or IM but I believe you do understand them correctly.

I do have a Facebook page and a MySpace page. Personally, I think MySpace sucks and only have a page because I'm coordinator for my high school reunions and have found some alumni there. MySpace if full of ads, spam and porn. It is also geared to teens.

Facebook does have ads but they are small and they don't flash and there is no spam or porn. I have found 100 alumni from my class on Facebook (6 on MySpace) and many of them are getting together and getting reacquainted with each other. Which I hope will encourage participation in our 30th reunion in two years.

[Mikey]

I've never visited myspace but I hear complaints much of what you say LeeAnne.  I really enjoy Facebook and find it an easy way to keep in touch with many people at just a glance.  I too have renewed many old acquaintances.

Ram: Your parents are only doing what parents are supposed to do....     LOL...

Facebook was somewhat overwhelming for me at first but I slowly caught on and overall I like the format.  It's been pretty trouble-free. 

[Jerry]

I went to Twitter to sign up.  I was told I already am!  Who remembers?
My actor friends seem to be hot for Twitter